Letters, 5/14: Lake dwellers responsible

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In regard to the comment by Capitol Beach Community Association President Ken Bradshaw (LJS, May 8):

The midges are the responsibility of the lake dwellers. Those of us who live “on the hill” do not get to enjoy your lake, but we do get to hate the midges that lake dwellers caused. I have been treating my yard, but because of small children and pets, not everyone wants to put nasty pesticides out on their lawns.

If you want the rest of the neighborhood such as those of us “on the hill” to cooperate, then perhaps you should buy those chemicals and treat our yards for us. We didn’t create the midge mess!

Julie Brekke, Lincoln

Drugs cost more than gold

My doctor has prescribed a drug for me. She was careful to specify a generic version.

I went to a pharmacy and had the prescription filled. It was for 30 10 mg pills at a cost of $17.99. Now 30 10 mg pills amount to 3/10 of a gram, and it takes about 30 grams to weigh a troy ounce.

This means that these pills cost about $1,800 per troy ounce, which is more than twice the price of gold as given on the business page of this paper.

One might argue that a large part of the cost is in quality control, but the recent news about another drug, heparin, makes me wonder.

Clifford Bettis, Lincoln

Many losers in fair move

Dave Fischer’s Community Column analysis regarding State Fair move “winners” (LJS, May 3) was rather shallow, particularly in not identifying “losers.”

While the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an institution may eventually be a winner, aren’t the present faculty, staff and students losers? Won’t the $21 million UNL must kick in for the move impact salaries and student tuition and fees, even if the money comes from the university foundation? (Or did donors really want their money to go for moving the fair?)

Where will UNL turn for maintenance funds for the significant expansion of physical facilities? (In the not-too-distant past, the university was said to be woefully short in this area, and deferred maintenance was the order of the day.) Will taxpayers, frequent losers, be asked to again ante up for more help?

Is the Lancaster Event Center a real winner? How many of the 999 “event days” held at the State Fairgrounds from October 2006 to September 2007 can the already heavily booked Lancaster Event Center accommodate? Fewer events in Lincoln mean fewer dollars spent here, and that’s a loss in my book.

Are the residents of congressional Districts 1 and 2 who like to attend the State Fair winners or losers? Virtually all of them live east of U.S. Highway 81 and will need to travel greater distance to attend the new Third District — whoops — State Fair.

Obviously, I have different vibes about the State Fair move than Fischer. And speaking of vibes, will UNL and yet-to-be-named research park tenants find vibration-free labs that sensitive research equipment requires in the environment so close to the mainline railroad? Although my hearing is somewhat impaired, I have no trouble feeling the trains passing through when I’m at State Fair Park.

Hal Allen, Lincoln

In honor of first responders

When Cyclone Nargis hit Burma (Myanmar) recently, it killed thousands of people and left millions homeless. This disaster has been further exacerbated by the unfortunate political situation there. It saddens me that getting humanitarian aid to those in affected areas should be so challenging.

At such times, countries across the world immediately come forward to offer help.

Who are these individuals who willingly rush to scenes of natural or manmade disasters at home or abroad to render service, whenever the call goes out? They are first responders, humanitarian relief workers, emergency medical workers and health care providers, educators, community leaders, activists and volunteers. Collaboratively, they help bring a safe environment to those whose lives are so dramatically altered.

At Union College in Lincoln, some of our students are preparing themselves to handle major emergencies like this. Union is graduating the first class of young people from its international rescue and relief baccalaureate program. They have had several experiences, putting their learning to use for those in need in this country and elsewhere, and would have jumped at the opportunity to assist in Myanmar.

My hope is that, because of brave and giving individuals such as our students and other selfless, skilled and talented people around the globe who provide vital help when disaster strikes, effects of this and any future emergencies will be lessened.

Dr. Michael Duehrssen, director, International Rescue and Relief, Union College